Hurricane Ike

[golsalax]

Just saw this video from KHOU.com on the west end of Galveston (7:01 is the length of the video).

http://www.khou.com/video/topstories-index.html?nvid=282686

[Wacoso]

Wacoso, check the last slide in this slide show from the Chron.

http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Galveston_suffers_direct_hit_from_Hurricane_Ike.ht ml (http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Galveston_suffers_direct_hit_from_Hurricane_Ike.ht ml)

Wow. Segway D-Bag. That guy tried to fight a girl at the lifeguard BBQ this year.

http://images.chron.com/photos/2008/09/13/13007106/600xPopupGallery.jpg

[Limnos]

Those pictures are sobering but some areas look better than I thought they would.

[Wacoso]

BC, do you just buy the bread, or the sammich?

Full on sammich. His po'boys are good as well. I usually stop in and see Ronnie every week or two. His son is good friend as well.

[Wacoso]

Those pictures are sobering but some areas look better than I thought they would.

Seawall doesn't look to be that bad, except for the legendary Balinese Room, Murdoch's, Hooter's, 61st Street Pier, and The Flagship. We haven't seen 89th street pier, or anything further east. I'd imagine East Beach is gone. I mean in the channel gone.

[Wacoso]

Here is an update on all the rest from the island:

Brandon and the Brandon McDermott band is safe in Houston
Will is partying in Austin
Roger and Gil made it out
Pete and Andrea made it through
Mikey and Adrienne are in B/CS and found out the roof collapsed at their business and they had 3 feet of water in their home
The next door neighbors are safe in Houston
Not sure about our other neighbor that were the models for the statue, but they were leaving Friday as well.
BBL is in B/CS come on a raise up

[BaylorGuy314]

Ike was not kind to anyone in Bolivar.

Three different friends of mine lost houses over there. They didn't just receive damage...their places were completely wiped off their footings and dismantled into millions of pieces by the waves. They are just hoping their property still exists...the sea has reclaimed a lot of beachfront land.

Here's some pics:

BEFORE
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal1-before1.jpg

AFTER
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal1ref.jpg


Notice all of the slabs and pilings where houses once stood. Approximately 1 in every 30 seem to have made it:

http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal3.jpg
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal4.jpg
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal5.jpg

[BaylorGuy314]

A few more:


http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2793/gilcrestlo2.png
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6277/gilcrest3wm6.png
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3093/crystalbeach3pw2.png

[GigaBear]

That is absolutely unbelievable. Hard to imagine that kind of destruction.



Incredible.

[Wacoso]

Ike was not kind to anyone in Bolivar.

Three different friends of mine lost houses over there. They didn't just receive damage...their places were completely wiped off their footings and dismantled into millions of pieces by the waves. They are just hoping their property still exists...the sea has reclaimed a lot of beachfront land.

Here's some pics:

BEFORE
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal1-before1.jpg

AFTER
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal1ref.jpg


Notice all of the slabs and pilings where houses once stood. Approximately 1 in every 30 seem to have made it:

http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal3.jpg
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal4.jpg
http://www.brandonwarford.com/pics/crystal5.jpg

The devastation over there is horrendous. They keep skipping past the area on flyovers and I think it is due to the amount of people that remained there. Hopefully they still have their property.

I do know several 3rd row houses on the west end are now front row houses.

[BearTooth]

My inlaws own a condo just west of Seven Seas Grocery. I keep looking, but haven't found any pics or video yet.

Edit: I found it. The KHOU website has the best collection of videos. The condos are standing, which is great (~2:10 in the clip.)

http://www.khou.com/video/index.html?nvid=282689

[Grace Anne]

I have a friend with a house on the bay side, but I haven't been able to get my bearings to find her neighborhood in any of the photos. These photos make me doubt their home made it. They weren't there during the storm, thank God.

I think that Frisco's family has a house there, too.

[wantsBU2win]

amazing pictures.

thanks Wacoso for updating us. :)

[BaylorPhillie]

I should email the owners of the beach house we rented during WW2K7 and see if it is okay-- they had 3 homes around there I believe.

[BearChick]

I did talk to BBL for a while yesterday. Pray for him, he's in College Station and will be there for a while. He did say the hotel they've put him up in is nice, but it IS in the middle of agsyville. He also said they're terrible drivers there. BBL quote: "They drive like I used to." He did say a couple of folks from TAMUG have been let on the Island. Looks like the campus largely took a bath, but the initial reports are that BBL's apartment may have remained dry. Which means his *ahem* videos are all safe....

[BearChick]

I have a friend with a house on the bay side, but I haven't been able to get my bearings to find her neighborhood in any of the photos. These photos make me doubt their home made it. They weren't there during the storm, thank God.

I think that Frisco's family has a house there, too.

If they were in Bolivar/Crystal Beach area, no it didn't. There isn't much standing in Crystal Beach by all reports. The front page of the Chronicle today shows the ONE house left standing in Gilchrist. Like BG314 said, those houses there didn't just sustain damage, they're all gone. Entire communities have been wiped off the map down there.

Although there's been a lot of talk about how badly Galveston's West End was damaged, it appears that a large section closer to the Pass faired very well, like it just got skipped over. They are going door to door in the Pirate's Beach area today. They should have the whole Island searched by tonight. One confirmed death on the West End, one on the East End and one elsewhere. One guy apparently drowned in his car on 99th street trying to evacuate during the storm.

[BaylorGuy314]

Rollover pass collapsed during the storm. (This was the only road into Crystal Beach/Bolivar Peninsula.) Thus, the only way to get there is to take the ferry or to helicopter in and I can't imagine the ferry is operational except for emergency personnel only.

I'd imagine that's a big reason for the lack of press coverage.

http://access.nscpcdn.com/fotosrch/3/20080914_Was1913805_AFP.jpg

[Chief'sbear]

Rollover pass collapsed during the storm. (This was the only road into Crystal Beach/Bolivar Peninsula.) Thus, the only way to get there is to take the ferry or to helicopter in and I can't imagine the ferry is operational except for emergency personnel only.

I'd imagine that's a big reason for the lack of press coverage.

http://access.nscpcdn.com/fotosrch/3/20080914_Was1913805_AFP.jpg

Last night they said the ferry boats are OK, but the landings are inoperable.

[golsalax]

I finally heard from my mother via text message this morning since I last got in touch with her Saturday morning.

She let me know that her house is still without electricity, but it sounded like her house had no problems. She also commented about wonderful weather meaning today. I figured her cell phone is still low on battery, so she is just conserving words.

I did look at a camera on Transtar Houston which I was lucky enough to take a good look at 4 pictures on HWY 146/HWY 646 leading to Bacliff. I do not see any flooding or water standing around. That was date stamped today this afternoon. I would surmise that my mother meant that there was no flooding in her house.

All in all, she is fine. Whew. I am sure she will say more later this week whenever her cell battery power is up and whenever electricity does come on.

Thanks to BC for mentioning KHOU forums, for they are great sources of information to glean from regardless of whether the info is accurate or sketchy.

[Alvination]

Well, I'm on generator power, borrowing from my uncle's. Still without main power in the house. I know enough that I'm way better off than a lot of other people that was affected, so I won't complain that much. Thoughts are out to those who have it worse off. :(

[Wacoso]

Well, I'm on generator power, borrowing from my uncle's. Still without main power in the house. I know enough that I'm way better off than a lot of other people that was affected, so I won't complain that much. Thoughts are out to those who have it worse off. :(

What part of Alvin are you in? Nearer Manvel or Sugarland?

[Limnos]

I just hope that not too many tried to ride out Ike in Bolivar. That place has been obliterated. :(

[Alvination]

What part of Alvin are you in? Nearer Manvel or Sugarland?

Neither. I live in north Houston below Spring/Woodlands. My name's Alvin, hence the name (If I recall we met at a tailgate last year or in the science building...formerly Astro101).

[Wacoso]

Neither. I live in north Houston below Spring/Woodlands. My name's Alvin, hence the name (If I recall we met at a tailgate last year or in the science building...formerly Astro101).

Yeah, I remember. Tyrus and Stantwon's buddy. Plus you came to several tailgates. You're out now?

[Alvination]

Yup, out of Baylor and...well, lounging around for a while in Houston. Gonna come up for a couple of games later on in the year though, so I'll see you again hopefully. Hope everything works out for the best for you and your family man.

[BaylorPhillie]

For those who want to see Gaido's... http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/ike/geo-C25882312.jpg

In between the center jettys.

[Limnos]

The damage looks to be worse on the backside. Interesting.

[biggmatt24]

Glad you checked in Alvin. Was thinking about you today after the chat during the game on Saturday.

[BaylorPhillie]

Looks like Crazy Oaks is still standing as well...

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/ike/geo-C25886126.jpg

(look to the left of the large beige square on the bottom right side)

I used google maps to find the approximate location, and used whatever I could see that was similar to find it.

[Friscobear]

I think that Frisco's family has a house there, too.

To clarify, we rent a house there for two weeks every year.

I've seen it in some satellite pictures and it appears to be intact. There is some minor roof damage, but no telling what it looks like beneath. It may be structurally unsound.

The roads leading to it in the subdivision are gone. So is every single house between it and the beach. So many empty slabs... :(

[Wacoso]

Looks like Crazy Oaks is still standing as well...

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/ike/geo-C25886126.jpg

(look to the left of the large beige square on the bottom right side)

I used google maps to find the approximate location, and used whatever I could see that was similar to find it.

That is Crazy Oaks. Looks like the trees and all made it. I do think they have some damage by looking at all the debris around, but then again it could have just blown through the field and landed there from the beachside.

The housing development to the west of Crazy Oaks is Spanish Grant and they didn't get a ton of damage, but a tornado came through after the hurricane and got a couple houses. They have a ton more water in there now than before.

[Wacoso]

http://df1.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0914-Ike11.jpg

That is about a mile from our house, maybe less. This was on top of the Seawall and they're building a Holiday Inn Express next to it. I wonder what the Marriot behind it looks like?

[Wacoso]

http://df1.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0914-Ike8.jpg

[ChipOC]

http://df1.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0914-Ike11.jpg

That is about a mile from our house, maybe less. This was on top of the Seawall and they're building a Holiday Inn Express next to it. I wonder what the Marriot behind it looks like?
La Quinta means "next to Denny's" in Spanish.

[HappyRebel]

La Quinta means "next to Denny's" in Spanish.

Might as well..they do come in pairs...

[nein51]

A few prayers please, we have 10 people that have not been accounted for yet. 17 stores in one are down another 10 in another. Most important is just the people that no one can find. A few lived in Crystal Beach and Bolivar.

[Limnos]

A few prayers please, we have 10 people that have not been accounted for yet. 17 stores in one are down another 10 in another. Most important is just the people that no one can find. A few lived in Crystal Beach and Bolivar.

I've been very worried about people who may have ridden out the storm in Bolivar. It is simply gone. If anyone remained in that area there is a chance we may never find them.

[ChipOC]

I've already seen one article where a man said that a woman with him in the rafters of a building was washed out to sea. It is very possible we won't find many people.

[BaylorPhillie]

A few prayers please, we have 10 people that have not been accounted for yet. 17 stores in one are down another 10 in another. Most important is just the people that no one can find. A few lived in Crystal Beach and Bolivar.

Prayers said.

I've already seen one article where a man said that a woman with him in the rafters of a building was washed out to sea. It is very possible we won't find many people.

I saw something on the news about that... there was a couple who was heading to the golf course the woman worked out to check to see if everything was okay. They got caught there and had to ride out the storm.

I can almost guarantee anyone who didn't evac and survived will definitely evac the next storm that comes.

[Texas Golfer]

A few prayers please, we have 10 people that have not been accounted for yet. 17 stores in one are down another 10 in another. Most important is just the people that no one can find. A few lived in Crystal Beach and Bolivar.

You got it, my friend.

[Wacoso]

Sure thing nein.

Bolivar is no longer a peninsula. The storm created three new islands. There is no road to get onto it. There is no ferry to get onto it. It is in shambles.

[Wacoso]

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=a0bc47338fcf231b

[Texas Golfer]

The island’s famous Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant, 3800 Seawall Blvd., sustained only minor damage.

Crews already were cleaning up. Gaido’s Seaside Inn had heavier storm damage.

Gaido’s restaurant has been on the island nearly a century, and the family that owns it was determined to get back to business.

Gaido’s is having a shrimp boil for first responders at noon Thursday at the restaurant.

“We have started cleaning up,” Michael Gaido said. “Galveston will overcome the devastation. Galveston is resilient and will rebuild.”

I would think, with the restaurant being what Gaido's is known for, that Michael has to be pleased. Insurance can help him repair the motel in no time.

[Wacoso]

He needs our prayers as he has many employees and family.

[nein51]

I hope things get back to normal for him soon. I met him the other day though I suspect with the damage we will not be able to work a deal for this year.

As an aside, if the Home Depot was okay, I wonder how much damage our store got.

[Wacoso]

25

Here is the store from behind. Sorry for the large attachment. I tried to get it smaller.

[Wacoso]

I hope things get back to normal for him soon. I met him the other day though I suspect with the damage we will not be able to work a deal for this year.

As an aside, if the Home Depot was okay, I wonder how much damage our store got.

I think it'll be ready in a month. He's been down there working since Sunday. I'd bet your store down there would love to have a dinner there in December. Also, your store area got 6-8 feet, but your store is higher than many places around it.

[Wacoso]

26

Here is the store from the side. Gives a different view of all that is missing, like the dumpster, walls the dumpster was in, stairs, etc...

[Wacoso]

27

Here is the debris field with a ship container on the beach and who knows what else is in that pile.

[SoTex]

Wow! Prayers still coming your way as well as for nein and others.

[BaylorPhillie]

Thanks for the pics, W. Are the stairs in the back or the ramp still accessible?

[nein51]

I think it'll be ready in a month. He's been down there working since Sunday. I'd bet your store down there would love to have a dinner there in December. Also, your store area got 6-8 feet, but your store is higher than many places around it.6-8 feet is not good but all of our storage is above ground. Will have to have the environmental people check it out because we have above ground oil storage tanks. Could have been much worse.

Wow! Prayers still coming your way as well as for nein and others.I dont need any, I am in a hotel in SLC. We are still missing 10 people.

[Greggor25]

Prayers are still coming for you and your family.

[Limnos]

25

Here is the store from behind. Sorry for the large attachment. I tried to get it smaller.
It really looks pretty good to me.

[DONNIE D]

W, BC, just catching up. Sounds like you guys are getting pretty good news. Stay strong.

[KellerBear]

Just got a call from a friend...4 of her family members were trapped on Bolivar as the storm went through...all are missing.

They took boats down there and actually found 9 bodies themselves. They expressed that the body count is really going to shoot up, since they can't add a bunch of the deceased to the list until the next of kin are notified.

Please pray for all on the coast.

[BearChick]

I think it'll be ready in a month. He's been down there working since Sunday. I'd bet your store down there would love to have a dinner there in December. Also, your store area got 6-8 feet, but your store is higher than many places around it.

He told me he thought they could reopen the restaurant in some form as soon as they had power again.

[Limnos]

Just got a call from a friend...4 of her family members were trapped on Bolivar as the storm went through...all are missing.

They took boats down there and actually found 9 bodies themselves. They expressed that the body count is really going to shoot up, since they can't add a bunch of the deceased to the list until the next of kin are notified.

Please pray for all on the coast.

This just breaks my heart and unfortunately I have a feeling that this story is going to repeat itself many times over.

It is so sad.

[golsalax]

I finally got an email from my mom who went to a building near her home since that place had power. I asked her how come Bacliff didn't get much flooding compared to its closest next door neighbor, Kemah. That was based on some reports I read last weekend. She responded:

Bacliff was flooded for about five blocks from the water. We are much higher above the water than Kemah which is at sea level. In Bacliff the storm surge brought much debris from the water with it and homes have lots of mud inside. Broken up and covered with debris.(this is in reference to one of the piers in the Galveston Bay near Bacliff) It was the surge from the water that did most of the damage at Kemah. In Bacliff we have many, many trees down from the wind but fortunately most did not fall on houses.

My mom wrote earlier that her husband was able to hook up the generator to the water heater when she was able to have hot shower.

I just got a message from my nephew who is back at his apartment in The Woodlands as his place got power back.

[HappyRebel]

My mom wrote earlier that her husband was able to hook up the generator to the water heater when she was able to have hot shower.

I just got a message from my nephew who is back at his apartment in The Woodlands as his place got power back.

That is great Gofer......

[socdoc]

http://joelnafziger.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/before-and-after-ike-pictures-of-bolivar-peninsula-texas/
UNBELIEVABLE photos of Bolivar before and after IKE

[Wacoso]

Just got a call from a friend...4 of her family members were trapped on Bolivar as the storm went through...all are missing.

They took boats down there and actually found 9 bodies themselves. They expressed that the body count is really going to shoot up, since they can't add a bunch of the deceased to the list until the next of kin are notified.

Please pray for all on the coast.


My biggest fears Keller. I know County Judge Yarbrough's son pretty well and that is a great family. His sister is a Bear as well. I pray for him as well as our mayor. Such a hard time.

[Texas Golfer]

I finally got an email from my mom who went to a building near her home since that place had power. I asked her how come Bacliff didn't get much flooding compared to its closest next door neighbor, Kemah. That was based on some reports I read last weekend. She responded:



My mom wrote earlier that her husband was able to hook up the generator to the water heater when she was able to have hot shower.

I just got a message from my nephew who is back at his apartment in The Woodlands as his place got power back.

I'm so happy to hear your family is doing well under the circumstances.

[Wacoso]

Here are some updates:
Mikey and Adrienne had 3-4 feet in their house. Business roof collapsed.
WillThing had 3-4 feet in his house.
Mondos made it through pretty well.
Roger and Gil are in Meyerland.
Pete and Andrea made it, but haven't heard anything else.
FBG had 8 inches in one area and 1-1.5 feet in another.
Brandon has heard his house is ok.
Brandon's parents lost their garage and part of the deck on their canal home.

[Limnos]

Here are some updates:
Mikey and Adrienne had 3-4 feet in their house. Business roof collapsed.
WillThing had 3-4 feet in his house.
Mondos made it through pretty well.
Roger and Gil are in Meyerland.
Pete and Andrea made it, but haven't heard anything else.
FBG had 8 inches in one area and 1-1.5 feet in another.
Brandon has heard his house is ok.
Brandon's parents lost their garage and part of the deck on their canal home.

Prayers will continue for all.

[Wacoso]

Thanks for the pics, W. Are the stairs in the back or the ramp still accessible?

We think they are, but we don't know until we get down there.

[Wacoso]

http://df3.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0918LOCIKEWed05KMC.jpg

[ChipOC]

Just got a call from a friend...4 of her family members were trapped on Bolivar as the storm went through...all are missing.

They took boats down there and actually found 9 bodies themselves. They expressed that the body count is really going to shoot up, since they can't add a bunch of the deceased to the list until the next of kin are notified.

Please pray for all on the coast.
I'm so sorry to hear that Keller.

[HappyRebel]

Awe man...that is horrible...

[BaylorPhillie]

goodness. :(

[Wacoso]

http://df1.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0919LOCIKEThur09KMC.jpg

Take a look at this picture and it is one of two things:

1) Insurance scam
2) Someone fleeing from storm washed off the road and either swam to safety or not

The windshield wipers were on. The radio was on. The window is down. Other window not busted.

[ChipOC]

The server at df1.galvestondailynews.com is taking too long to respond.

[HappyRebel]

I had no problem opening it....that would be lots of trouble for an insurance fraud...burying the car like that..

[BearTooth]

This is Habla Road into Karankawa Beach on the west end of Galveston.

[BearTooth]

The front row are now seaward of the vegetation line and the slabs are destroyed. The state can legally take these properties. The gray house sold 45 days ago.

[Solan]

Just saw that Galveston residents can return on Wednesday.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/20/galveston.return/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[Wacoso]

These are our friends Mikey's brothers. Always nice to have family.

David Culpepper met his brother Joe in Atlanta, put a phony magnetic sign on a truck to masquerade as contractors and drove down to help a third brother, Michael, who owns an antiques shop on Galveston.

Guards at the checkpoint waved Joe and David Culpepper right in.

"Not getting on this island was not an option," David Culpepper said. "We have a brother in need."

[HappyRebel]

That is great....I bet their brother was happy to see them.

[Texas Golfer]

These are our friends Mikey's brothers. Always nice to have family.

That is great! Funny, too.

[HappyRebel]

That is great! Funny, too.

Even Killeen Daily herald has a link to that story on their website.....Smooth..very smooth...

[Wacoso]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080921/capt.7c3684bfc567454fb7df2a16a8e98805.ike_texas_tx mr106.jpg?x=400&y=266&q=85&sig=n8i761reoWv2IwhQoiYFqw--

Here is one of our friends on the beach.

[Wacoso]

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Hurricane-Ike-Gonaives-September-21-satellite-phone-Tropical-Storms-Haiti/ss/events/us/091208hurricaneike/s:/ap/ike/im:/080922/ids_photos_wl/r1576505783.jpg/;_ylt=AqEmB_QFkX6yLCbK0BBJKjCaK8MA#photoViewer=/080920/480/1bcce72d4f8342e5bb870904a98d7d2f

Pics 62-66 are pics of Mikey and Adrienne's work on their house.

[HappyRebel]

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/15/1404136.aspx

Poor fish

[Bexar Fan]

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Hurricane-Ike-Gonaives-September-21-satellite-phone-Tropical-Storms-Haiti/ss/events/us/091208hurricaneike/s:/ap/ike/im:/080922/ids_photos_wl/r1576505783.jpg/;_ylt=AqEmB_QFkX6yLCbK0BBJKjCaK8MA#photoViewer=/080920/480/1bcce72d4f8342e5bb870904a98d7d2f

Pics 62-66 are pics of Mikey and Adrienne's work on their house.
Mia helped them?

[wantsBU2win]

Mia helped them?

the pictures were numbers 72-76 for me.

[HappyRebel]

the pictures were numbers 72-76 for me.

Me too....70-76 for me

[BaylorPhillie]

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/15/1404136.aspx

Poor fish

awwww....

and ew.

[Wacoso]

Talked with a friend tonight that has been on the island the entire time, lifeguard, and his family lost their house. I asked what I could get him on Wednesday and he said a case of Red Bull. I think I can manage that.

[Bexar Fan]

Any updates on the condition of Ocean Oso's, the residence of W, BC, and baby e, BBL, or when y'all can get back on the island?

EDIT: Just saw the updates on Wolverines Announcenents. Please keep us posted as you are able, once you get on the island today.

[BearChick]

This is Brian:

Just got back from Galveston, staying in Katy right now.

Michael and his crew pulled all of our carpet, padding, baseboards, and 2 feet of sheetrock in our house that received 3-4 inches. Inspector says 4 feet must come out. So he's looking for sheetrockers to come in and get the other 2 feet out and then replace the kitchen.

Stopped by a good friend on the beach patrol and he was pulling salvagable items out of his house. He had six little figurines he'd bought for his wife. Was dipping them in bleach and scrubbing on them. He had 6-8 feet in his house. His wife and 9 month old are in Spring with no a/c. We tried to convince him to get them to come to Kristen's parents.

Stopped by another friend and if you saw the story in USA Today or elsewhere about two brothers running the gate last week as contractors, well, the brother they were going to help is one of our good friends on the island and their house had 4-5 feet in it. All the sheetrock is out. Then we went to their business and the roof collapsed. A 60 foot steel beam in the ceiling bent into a V. He owns the building and you could tell he was on the brink of wanting to just lay down.

Then went to another friend that asked us to just bring him some beer. One of our best friends on the island. We pull up and he's on the phone with his insurance agent describing why he was calling and this is what we hear. "Yes, I'm calling about my harley, well, it is totalled. How do I know, well, it was 8 feet under water so I'm pretty sure it is." Out front of his place is a pile 20 X 6 of everything he owns. He's a web designer/graphic artist (Cross Canadian Ragweed, AQHA, etc....) and all the originals are out there. All his toys, TVs, books, etc... are just there. His bookshelf wasn't even unloaded, just thrown on the pile.

Then we went to the store and they warned us about snakes. The stairs are gone so we head toward the ramp. First corner of the ramp, 5 foot diamondback, dead, Kristen screams and runs the other way, I convince her it is dead and to walk behind me. She does, then we get to the other corner and the ramp has about 3-4 feet of just debris. We walk back past the snake and the smell isn't good going or coming, but I tell her to go get in the car and I'll climb up the stairs to the beach patrol and then climb across to the ramp above. I do this and walk up to the store, put on my mask, and wow, the smell is rotting meat. Go inside with a guy that works on the beach as he wouldn't let me go in by myself and we had about an 1-3 inches in the store, but it drained quickly. 2 of my 3 A/C units are on the sand. The other is a big ? They were 12-14 feet above the sand at one point. The pavilion is still standing, but all the sand around it is gone. The playground is about 10 feet lower and the water level is 3-4 feet there, so it all looks like a big moat with water and fish under our building. Just surreal.

Then we went to the house and inside wasn't bad since all the work had been done on it.

Then we went into the garage. Smoker is still there, water might have gotten into the firebox. Not sure, have wood, so I'll probably light it tomorrow. My turkey fryer is upside down? WT? I pick it up and it was suctioned to the floor and out comes 12 quarts of water and oil. Great smell. It goes down the driveway and my neighbor says, "I smell that over here." My old burner and roll top I started tailgating with, a rusty goopy mess. Then I get everything out of the garage on one side. Michael next door moved some of his furniture into the other side of the garage so I attacked half today, the other tomorrow. Anything below 2 feet is gone. All of our past awards, cards, etc... from previous jobs, friends, etc... are gone. Kristen finally cried when she found her Rockets/Comets box of all that she did there was destroyed, except a couple of pictures. I get the cabinets that hold the fertilizer, etc... and start to just throw them out all together and the bags break. 20-30 lbs of fertilizer all mixed and in water is not good. I hose it down and try to breathe again. Kristen is cleaning out the kitchen and finds plenty of pans full of water. Things we had gotten from the wedding, etc... Trash. The hard side of the garage is done. Tomorrow the easy side.

And we were the lucky ones.

[BaylorPhillie]

wow. Sorry that you have to go through this, W and BC. We are all here for you.

[Limnos]

I am most thankful that you guys are safe. Stuff can be replaced. You guys cannot be. I am very sorry that you are going through all this though. I just don't know what else to say.

[Bexar Fan]

BC & W,

All I can add is that at least now you know the extent of damage and can begin to plan and work the recovery. The suspense of "will every thing be gone?" is over.

May you find some peace in all of this, with God's help.

Sorry guys, that's the best I can do right now except to say please let us know what you need us to do to help.

[Texas Golfer]

Thanks for the update, Brian. Our hearts and our prayers are with you, my friend.

[DONNIE D]

Buddy, I'll second what Bexar said. As much as we love our stuff, it's still just stuff. You, your wife and baby are safe.

Tell Willthing those originals are just great memories now. Give him a hug from me.

[ChipOC]

Please do be careful and watch out for those snakes. Just said a prayer for you guys.

[Wacoso]

Appreciate it guys. Went back today and finished up the garage and started packing the kitchen. The baseboards underneath were rotted through already. The smell is getting better, (BC said my nose must have been damaged by the fertilizer) but then again the wind was blowing nice and cool away from us. I'm sore, sunburned, and going back for more tomorrow. Plan on getting some boards off the store to let some sun in the place. Then start airing it out. Took some pictures of the front end loader taking off our things from the curb and it was disheartening to say the least. All your pieces of you getting pushed down the street into a pile and then loaded into a trailer.

Some ******* on our street got mad they piled the mess in front of his house and started yelling at the operator and we ended up having an hour delay to get it cleaned up since he wouldn't just let them work. Wanted to go knock him out as did a few others watching the stupidity. The managers of the crew came by to tell us they were sorry and they'd have it cleaned up soon. Told him that we were all appreciative of his efforts and sorry somebody had to ****ing dickhead on our street. The guy just laughed a little and said he hadn't slept in 3 days and he guessed the guy was just having a bad day. Told him that no, he's just an *******. He got a good laugh and told us good luck and God bless us.

[wantsBU2win]

wow....thanks for the updates. I agree with Limnos and I'm thankful y'all are safe. It sounds like the cleanup is well under way. I can't imagine what it would be like to put everything I had on the curb and watch it shoved away on a trailer!

[Wacoso]

http://df4.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0926LOCCLShores1KMC.jpg

[nein51]

http://df4.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0926LOCCLShores1KMC.jpg
If possession is 9/10th of the law...someone just got a VERY NICE new boat :D

[Texas Golfer]

http://df4.galvestondailynews.com//photos/2008.September/0926LOCCLShores1KMC.jpg

If possession is 9/10th of the law...someone just got a VERY NICE new boat :D

Aren't there zoning laws to preclude parking boats in driveways without trailers?

[nein51]

Aren't there zoning laws to preclude parking boats in driveways without trailers?
Trailer is cheap compared to the boat. Maybe next time the owner will properly moor said boat and it wont end up in someone's yard.

[Wacoso]

Trailer is cheap compared to the boat. Maybe next time the owner will properly moor said boat and it wont end up in someone's yard.

You should see all the boats in the highway median. Seems some didn't take their Boy Scout knot lessons seriously.

Also, as you approach the island there is a LAAAARRRGE boat at a 90 degree angle with oh, 15 or so feet out of the water. Well, today three guys in a flat bottom hooked up to it and they were pulling it to shore and it popped up while I was driving by. Let's just say it was easily a 45 foot center cabin cruiser, most likely longer. Quite impressive.

The other boats with names, numbers, and insurance carriers names on them are interesting as the owners found the boats and then said give me a call, it is totalled.

Drove down Harborside today and it is bad. A shrimp boat is up on the dock behind UTMB's heliport. Makes the helicopter look like a gnat.

[FIJIFan]

Casey's is open now!

[Limnos]

Casey's is open now!

Are you down there Fiji? Man I could go for a great Gaido's or Casey's meal right now.

[Texas Golfer]

Casey's is open now!

I know. Wacoso texted that photo to me making me thirstier than what I already was.

[BaylorPhillie]

Glad to here Casey's is open! Mom and I (and siblings) went there twice when we were there this summer. In one weekend. :)

[Wacoso]

Are you down there Fiji? Man I could go for a great Gaido's or Casey's meal right now.

I sent the text to you as well. I think I sent it out to about 30 people. We'd been working and got hungry so we headed down the street to see Michael and found out he was washing dishes so I had two beers and a burger. Went back today and had a beer and a club sandwich. Got a chance to catch up with him and his wife and it seemed sorta normal.

Met with the insurance adjuster and everything went great. I mean, really great. Now, back to more cleaning and picking up a trailer to pack our house into. Fun, fun, fun...

[Texas Golfer]

I sent the text to you as well. I think I sent it out to about 30 people. We'd been working and got hungry so we headed down the street to see Michael and found out he was washing dishes so I had two beers and a burger. Went back today and had a beer and a club sandwich. Got a chance to catch up with him and his wife and it seemed sorta normal.

Met with the insurance adjuster and everything went great. I mean, really great. Now, back to more cleaning and picking up a trailer to pack our house into. Fun, fun, fun...

I'm so happy to hear that everything is coming out better than expected.

[BearChick]

Yeah, better than we'd hoped at the store. There are actually good insurance adjusters out there--well, plus my aunt and cousin, of course... God was really good to us yesterday.

[Bexar Fan]

Yeah, better than we'd hoped at the store. There are actually good insurance adjusters out there--well, plus my aunt and cousin, of course... God was really good to us yesterday.
Wonderful!! Prayers will continue.

When I got the Caseys pic I was excited for y'all. Oh, and I reached into the fridge for a Dos XX. :D

[BearChick]

We went to Casey's the last 2 days. Now I'm home today with Pooky while Wacoso goes to get our trailer to load the house into. I think I'm suffering Casey's withdrawal. I'm spoiled now.

Must. Have. Club.

[BearChick]

If you want to see something cool, go here.

http://www.jbwo.org/#jbwo-webcam

This is the Jamaica Beach Weather Observatory, which was destroyed by Ike. This is the last picture the camera took. You can also see the pressure drop and other things as tracked below on the "past 24 hours" section.

A note from the keeper of the observatory is here:
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000012354

[BearChick]

Click through this photo gallery. There are several pictures of our church, First Baptist Church of Galveston (founded in 1840 by Rev. James Huckins, prior to his founding role at Baylor.)

http://www.chron.com/channel/houstonbelief/photogallery/Galveston_churches_assess_damage_begin_cleanup.htm l

[Chief'sbear]

Thanks for sharing BC. It will take some time to get things in order down there.

Any idea when you guys will be opening? I have a friend adjusting down there, and he LOVES burgers. lol

[BearChick]

Thanks for sharing BC. It will take some time to get things in order down there.

Any idea when you guys will be opening? I have a friend adjusting down there, and he LOVES burgers. lol

We will not reopen until the 2009 season begins in March. Stewart Beach is closed for the rest of the year. The building itself has a great deal of damage, even though our store is relatively unscathed. The entire bottom floor was washed out--all the storage, all the plumbing, all the AC units. There are large lagoons surrounding the building where the sand was scraped out many feet deep. Fish are living in them. The pilings will have to be reinforced. Power lines are down across the beach. The stairs on two sides are missing. The playground is in a hole 10 feet deep--looks like Luke Skywalker and the sand pit on Star Wars.

[Wacoso]

When I talked to the adjuster these were some of his quotes:

"Dear Lord!"

"You gotta be ****tin' me, water got this high?"

"Well, you can't open now. Somebody would have to be able to fly to get to you."

[Limnos]

I sent the text to you as well. I think I sent it out to about 30 people. We'd been working and got hungry so we headed down the street to see Michael and found out he was washing dishes so I had two beers and a burger. Went back today and had a beer and a club sandwich. Got a chance to catch up with him and his wife and it seemed sorta normal.

Met with the insurance adjuster and everything went great. I mean, really great. Now, back to more cleaning and picking up a trailer to pack our house into. Fun, fun, fun...

I didn't get it. :(

I am very glad to hear that things are better than feared. I am also very glad to hear that Michael and wife are well. How's the hotel?

[Wacoso]

Hotel received the most damage of any of their properties. It is up and running now, but not 100%.

[Wacoso]

http://www.galveston.com/default.asp

They about passed out when this was put on the front page of galveston.com and I don't blame them a bit. A call to me has been made to help out, but I'm not sure I can.

http://www.galveston.com/calendarofevents/event3243/

[Yogi Barrister]

Hotel received the most damage of any of their properties. It is up and running now, but not 100%.

It needed a serious renovation anyway.

[Friscobear]

http://www.galveston.com/default.asp

They about passed out when this was put on the front page of galveston.com and I don't blame them a bit. A call to me has been made to help out, but I'm not sure I can.

http://www.galveston.com/calendarofevents/event3243/

Want me to see if my brother can help? He has a nice smoker trailer.

[Wacoso]

They're borrowing mine. They have no idea on the amount of people that will show. I told him to buy 200 pounds that would feed 600 or so.

[Friscobear]

You'll be proud to know his isn't as big as yours.

[Wacoso]

You'll be proud to know his isn't as big as yours.

It ain't the size of the wave, it is the motion of the storm surge... or so the adjuster told me Sunday. Insurance humor or something.

[HappyRebel]

It ain't the size of the wave, it is the motion of the storm surge... or so the adjuster told me Sunday. Insurance humor or something.

Yeah..like this is a laughing matter....Did you tell him he should take his act on the road?

[Wacoso]

Yeah..like this is a laughing matter....Did you tell him he should take his act on the road?

I'd build him a stage with the amount we received.

[BaylorPhillie]

That's a good thing!

[BearChick]

I'd build him a stage with the amount we received.

No kidding. He is on my list of people I big pink puffy heart love.

[HappyRebel]

That is great...I am glad....he treated you guys good...

[Chief'sbear]

Our friends in Spring finally got their electricity turned on last Sat night.

[Chief'sbear]

Tons of pics at Surfside Beach area:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/beachadam/sets/

[Limnos]

wow

[BaylorPhillie]

BC and W-- I noticed on the Historic Galveston Foundation website today that they are willing to help out Island residents who live in Historic homes. If you know of someone who does, they might see what options they have.

[Wacoso]

Mikie and Adrienne are member of GHF.

[BearChick]

Mikie and Adrienne are member of GHF.

And Lauren is on the board.

Very cool that GHF would dive in like this. Still wonder how 35th and M fared...

[Chief'sbear]

I saw on the Port Aransas "South Jetty News" site that the City of Port A is collecting historical value items from Galveston that are washing ashore. They plan to get with the Galveston folks later on and attempt to get the collected items back where they came from. Pretty cool effort IMO.

[BaylorPhillie]

I saw on the Port Aransas "South Jetty News" site that the City of Port A is collecting historical value items from Galveston that are washing ashore. They plan to get with the Galveston folks later on and attempt to get the collected items back where they came from. Pretty cool effort IMO.

That is awesome, actually. I've tried to keep tabs on some of the ones I know in the area. There is a ton of history everywhere, and some museums had massive damage during the hurricane. Luckily, some managed to ride out the storm with minimal damage.

[Wacoso]

One of the coolest I've seen is a Navy Vet that retired on G.I. had his medals returned after they were found on Pelican Island on the TAMUG campus. They had washed out of his house on Channelview (Northern tip of the bay).

[HappyRebel]

One of the coolest I've seen is a Navy Vet that retired on G.I. had his medals returned after they were found on Pelican Island on the TAMUG campus. They had washed out of his house on Channelview (Northern tip of the bay).

That is amazing.....he is lucky to get them back...

[Wacoso]

and let me say that the island will return. Spent much of the day with Will, Mikie, Adrienne, Mondos, etc... and it did my heart and mind well. I've been pretty much depressed for the past 2 weeks due to not really having a home. Not knowing how well my/our friends were doing. It affected me. I hated the drive to the island to know that I was going to pack, clean, and do things that would not let me stay where I love, where I live, where I exist. There is nothing I saw today that leads me to believe we won't be back and better. It might not be for a couple of years, but we'll be there. We'll survive and prosper. All of us.

[HappyRebel]

and let me say that the island will return. Spent much of the day with Will, Mikie, Adrienne, Mondos, etc... and it did my heart and mind well. I've been pretty much depressed for the past 2 weeks due to not really having a home. Not knowing how well my/our friends were doing. It affected me. I hated the drive to the island to know that I was going to pack, clean, and do things that would not let me stay where I love, where I live, where I exist. There is nothing I saw today that leads me to believe we won't be back and better. It might not be for a couple of years, but we'll be there. We'll survive and prosper. All of us.


That is great...it is normal to be depressed when something like this happens...geez you have to start from scratch....I think the two of you have been amazing through all of this....I could only hope to be as brave as you and everyone that this has effected by this has been, if I were ever in that situation....I really, really,really am totally impressed by you and BC...and everyone else...that has shared their stories....

[Wacoso]

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=a425112363b0a483

Here is the story of the medals.

Thanks HR. I try to keep my chin up, but sometimes it feels good to be reinforced by friends.

[HappyRebel]

That is great...and someone he knew found them...wow..

[Missile]

A good buddy of mine on the yellow chopper.
http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Bikers_invade_Island.html

[Naynay4884]

only one thing needs to be said here...

hurrican ike, **** you. you're such a dirty *****.

(BS wrote a song for hurricane ike)

[Chief'sbear]

A good buddy of mine on the yellow chopper.
http://www.chron.com/news/photogallery/Bikers_invade_Island.html

That is a great looking bike.

[Wacoso]

We're down here right now. Came in Friday for a beer and BC had a meeting. Back to Katy that day and then back tonight for a party with our church group and another meeting tomorrow.

The past two weekends (Dicken's and Lone Star Rally) have lifted the spirits of the island and has us making a quicker comeback than thought of before. We should be open sooner and it seems the businesses that are not returning are being replaced by new ones.